Line History:

The Victoria Line, the first deep-level Underground line servin g central London to be built since the "tube boom" of 1890 - 1907, links Walthamstow in north east London with Brixton in south London. The line opened in stages between 1968 and 1971 (listed at the end of this Fact Sheet), penetrating areas of north and s outh London not previously served by the Underground. The line serves four main line railway stations (Victoria, Euston, St Pancras and King's Cross). In addition to crossing the very heart of London's West End, it passes through London's three busiest Underground stations, Victoria, Oxford Circus and King's Cross.

The line's origins can be traced back to the Second World War when it was included in the 1943 County of London Plan. The constraints of the war years and the subsequent re-organisation and nati onalisation of London's transport caused the plan to be postponed, and Parliamentary Powers to build the line were not obtained until 1955. Further delays in obtaining funds meant that actual construction work did not start until 1962. Conceived originall y to relieve congestion on existing Underground and suburban railway routes, the Victoria Line quickly established new markets of its own and today carries nearly three times more people than originally envisaged. Brixton alone today caters for over 15 mil lion people per year - more than twice the original estimate.

Stations and Trains:

The fleet was designed for the opening of the line and is known as 1967 tube stock. \par Each train has only one person in charge, the Train Operator. Once the Operator has closed the train doors and pressed the start buttons, the trains run automatically to the next station, responding to coded impulses transmitted through the track. The safe and secure operation of stations is equally important, and a new security room has been opened at Brixton which monitors all the stations at the southern end of the line. Work is also in progress on th e installation of a new control room at Seven Sisters in order to improve control of this busy station, especially the football crowds en route to and from Tottenham Hotspurs' matches. Refurbishment work has commenced on the Underground's busiest escalators at Victoria, which link the Ticket Office and the Victoria Line; work is also taking place on escalators at Brixton and Walthamstow. At Tottenham Hale work is almost complete on a major station modernisation project which has completely transformed the upper levels of the station. Included in the modernisation is a small lift to link the ticket hall and bus station level with the platforms, thereby making Tottenham Hale the first station on the line to have step-free access from street level to the plat forms. Other improvement works are being carried out in the adjacent bus station, to create one of north London's most important bus-rail interchanges.

Some 143 million passenger journeys were made on the Victoria Line in1996. The 21 km (13.25 mile) journey from Brixton to Walthamstow takes 32 minutes and trains run every two minutes during peak periods in each direction.

Depots:

Those trains not in service are undergoing cleaning, maintenance or overhaul. These activities are carried out at the Victoria Line depot at Northumberland Park in Tottenham. The depot is the only part of the Victoria Line which is not below ground. All the trains have recently been refurbished and have new, brighter lighting, better seating and an enhanced interior appea rance using materials which meet the latest safety standards. The train exteriors have been painted in a special bright new livery from which it is easy to remove graffiti. A new washing machine has recently been installed to keep the trains looking good, as well as meeting the latest environmental standards.

The Future?:

Plans are now being developed to upgrade the Victoria Line to meet future predicted demand, especially from the Channel Tunnel Rail Link which will terminate at St Pancras. When completed, the Victoria Line upgrade should make it possible to run trains at intervals of one and a half minutes, and there is also likely to be a minor extension to the line at its southern end. In addition, the upgrade will include a major improvement scheme at Victoria to relieve congestion and provide proper interchange between the Underground (the Victoria Line and the Circle and District Lines), the main line and suburban rail services at Victoria Railtrack station and London Transport Bus services.

Victoria Line Route Map:

Click here to return to Sarah's Tube Train page